Motorists were urged by Co-op to take care on 5 December as it is officially the most dangerous day of the year to be on the roads. After analysing thousands of its claims Co-op Insurance can reveal that 5th December is officially ‘Danger Day’ with more accidents and collisions on this day than any other.

According to the data Vauxhall Astra drivers are involved in the most accidents, with men more likely to be in a crash than women – men have historically been involved in over half (60%) of collisions on this day in comparison to 40% women. The Midlands, East Anglia, the North East and the North West are the regions where most accidents have taken place in the past, accounting for 50% of claims on ‘Danger Day’. The average age of a driver involved in a collision on ‘Danger Day’ is 51.

Nick Ansley, Head of Motor Insurance at the Co-op, said: “From our analysis the 5th December is statistically the day when most accidents happen on the roads.

“In the run up to Christmas where the roads are busier with many making last minute trips to the shops, darker nights and icy road conditions make the likelihood of accidents increase.“Taking simple steps such as leaving plenty of time for journeys, keeping within speed limits and just being aware of other road users can really make the difference and help keep communities safe this Christmas period. “We would urge drivers to take care on the roads this Monday, and throughout the Christmas period, and not become a statistic.”